Bump In The Road

Menopause takes many women by surprise. Society is focused on the illusion of perpetual youth. But when menopause hits, hormones change, our bodies change and possibly the way society sees us changes as well. Lisa Triggs candidly discusses her downward spiral into depression and weight gain during her menopause years, exacerbated by life events that caused extreme stress. She realized that she nee...

Marijuana is legal. It's safe. Or is it? Rayond Wiggins questions the safety of this widely used drug, both from his professional and personal experience. On the personal side, Raymond has witnessed the devastating effects of substance abuse within his family. Professionally he has administered nearly 30,000 general anesthetics, which point to the increased drug tolerance and mental health issues...

Aaron, Lapedis knows what a second chance looks like. Just over 16 years ago, Aaron was thriving as an art gallery owner in Denver, Colorado. However, the recession hit hard, and his business faced unprecedented challenges. As he struggled with financial burdens, his personal life was also in turmoil, with his wife experiencing a difficult pregnancy and his father's health declining. In December o...

Kristina Heagh-Avritt is a former public school teacher who now supports families in finding the best educational paths for their children. Kristina focuses on the pressing issues within the current educational framework—more rules, regulations, and a lack of connection with families and students. She emphasizes how the school system is broken and suggests that the solution lies in empowering pare...

As a psychic medium and life coach, Mark Charters has navigated a difficult path. His journey began in a family where psychic abilities were both a gift and a burden. Growing up in a household where his mother and grandmother were psychic, he struggled with his identity and the societal stigma attached to his gifts. Mark's path was not an easy one. Along the way, he faced addiction, homelessness a...

Michelle DeKeyser found herself wondering if this is all there was. That simple question was the beginning of a midlife quest that would transform her world. In response, Michelle created Connecting Mamas, a community that connects entrepreneurially minded mothers through authenticity and support. The conversation touches on the vital role of community in fostering creativity and collaboration amo...

Marbeth Dunn's story is one of self-discovery, healing, and empowerment. Growing up in a traditional environment in New Jersey, she took a leap of faith and ran away to Haiti with her husband, where they lived in the mountains without electricity or running water for seven years. Along the way, Marbeth found herself coping with potentially life threatening asthma which sent her on a quest to heal....

Are talented children more difficult to raise? Sally Raymond's first son was a remarkably intelligent child, began reading signs and engaging in debates at an astonishingly young age. But beneath the facade of the perfect of the perfect child, life wasn't so perfect. Her son was emotionally vulnerable, as all children are. For him, a series of critical life events eventually led to his suicide. Sa...

What is happiness? And where do you find it? Teresa Greco had a fulfilling career, a loving family and material comforts. But none of this filled the void she felt within. This "lack" sent her on a quest. For over a decade, she embarked on a journey of healing, meditation, and spiritual exploration seeking to for whatever it was that might fill that void. This story is about one woman's personal t...

Midlife can be a transformative phase, filled with both challenges and opportunities. With a growing awareness of limited time, many of us reassess where we are and where we want to go. Jean Alfieri's story is about a midlife journey of self-discovery and reinvention. One of the key themes Jean discusses is the concept of invisibility that often accompanies midlife, particularly for women. She ref...

Joni Rodgers is, first and foremost, a storyteller. She's also a critically acclaimed novelist and New York Times selling ghostwriter. She's worked with many well known people including Paris Hilton, Justin Bieber and Elizabeth Smart. Her ability to translate people's paths into a compelling narrative is unparalleled. "As a novelist, memoirist, and collaborator, I'm dedicated to storytelling that...

Finding one's voice can be a daunting journey. For Laura Reid it meant overcoming a severe stutter. Yet today, she's a polished public speaker teaching others the ins and outs of effective communication. For Laura the key was to embrace her own vulnerability and using it as a superpower. It was when she discovered the power of storytelling, that she found an energetic connection with her audience....

Margot Black is an award-winning publicist who shares her secrets to help you navigate life's bumps. Margot is first and foremost a story teller. She has a key eye for detail, market trends and human nature. As an award-winning publicist and marketing executive, Margot Black helps people "fail forward" with style and grace to achieve their goals and objectives. Her book, Life's A Pitch: How to Win...

Doug Stoddard's story is inspirational. After facing bankruptcy and personal turmoil, he turned to neuroscience to understand the habits of thinking that had taken hold of his life. And there he found answers. He argues that 90% of what we experience in our professional lives is rooted in our emotional responses and habitual thought patterns. This is a powerful reminder that self-awareness is cruc...

A path to healing is always possible, says Asher Beckwitt. As both a trauma coach and a sexual abuse survivor, she understands that each journey is an individual one. Asher's own journey began with years of talk therapy, which laid the foundation for healing. However, it was the introduction of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy that marked a significant turning point. Th...

Amie Sponza always had a passion for theater and film, but life and responsibilities took her on a different path. Until serendipity reared its lovely head and she was asked to work on a short film which went on to win awards at film festivals. Amie Sponza's passion for storytelling was awakened and she decided to follow her heart. Today she provides coaching services to help others do the same. S...

Shawn Ellis is a passionate speaker, writer, and coach. He is a take charge guy, stressing that adaptability isn't just about responding to change—it's about mastering it. And even instigating it. To be a powerful speaker, Shawn relies on : Authenticity and Vulnerability: True connection and growth stem from being genuine and open Endings Create Beginnings: Embracing change leads to strength and n...

Denise Thomas' dreams for her children's college almost went up in smoke. A job loss meant that she and her husband lost everything. And she means EVERYTHING. What about college? With limited resources and no 401k to fall back on, Denise realized that traditional paths to college funding were no longer viable. So, she took matters into her own hands. Through extensive research and a relentless pur...

Ron Mitori's new book, "Solutions or Socialism" looks to the past and to the future as the U.S. position in the world evolves. His book starts off with stories of personal experiences under socialist regimes. One story, of Lore and her family begins: "Lore's father had been a successful inventor and businessman who owned a factory that produced household goods during WWII. He was also part of the...

Debbie Parker Oliver is a professor at Washington University and a seasoned hospice care professional. When her husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Debbie's expertise was put to the test. Debbie and her husband made a conscious decision to focus on quality time rather than aggressive treatments. This choice, influenced by their backgrounds in hospice and gerontology, allowed them to create...

Subscribers can enjoy extended conversations from this podcast. To subscribe, go to BumpInTheRoad. Substack.com The Wisdom In Dance Navigating the intricate journey of parenting is challenging in itself, but when faced with the added complexity of raising children with special needs, the path becomes even more difficult. And Joanne De Simone faced this path with not one, but two children. Through...

This is a story of a transformative journey of healing, self-discovery, and spirituality. In their book, Healing With Love, two sisters, Hillary Donato Odoy and Cindy England, each share their stories. Hillary's journey began with a cancer diagnosis that turned her world upside down. Faced with uncertainty and fear, she reached out to her sister Cindy, who had been exploring energy healing and med...

When Ann's parents announced their move to an assisted living apartment, they gave her just two weeks to empty their three-story home filled with 56 years of memories. As she sorted through the items, Ann found herself confronting childhood memories and traumas that she had long buried. It was as if each item carried an energy of its own, triggering suppressed emotions and leading her to a near-de...